Posted in Author Talk, Book Signing Events, Norton Public Library, Published, The Uninvited Guest, tagged Author Talk, Book Signing Events, fiction, first novel, mystery genre, Riverhaven Books, self-publishing, writing groups on October 16, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Norton Public Library… on Tuesday evening, October 18 at 6 pm, I’ll be sharing my journey as I wrote my debut mystery ‘The Uninvited Guest’.
From inspiration to research through writing groups and publication, you’ll learn what is involved in creating a work of fiction. I’ll also share several amusing anecdotes that happened along the way.
After a short reading, I’ll answer all your questions, and gladly autograph copies of my book.
I’ll watch for your smiling face!
Posted in Attleboro Public Library, Author Panel, Book Signing Events, The Uninvited Guest, tagged Author Panel, Book Signing Events, fiction, first novel, mystery genre, self-publishing, writing on October 6, 2016| 1 Comment »
This Saturday, October 8 , at 1pm, I’ll be participating in a panel of local authors. We will share our writing habits, the inspiration for our stories, and our paths to publication.
If you are planning to be in the area, register for this event and stop by the library at 74 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. Join the audience. ask questions and be inspired!
Registration for this event is required. RSVP online or by calling the library at 508-222-0157.
Posted in Book Signing Events, Marketing, Published, Uncategorized, tagged fiction, first novel, good news, marketing, self-publishing, writing on February 20, 2016| Leave a Comment »
After the successful author talk and book signing with the local garden club, the Ugly Dog Bookstore, and a private Girls Night Out last month, I dove into chasing down additional events. Friends were anxious to advise their connections of who to ask and where to go to share my story! Most organizations need a speaker for an upcoming meeting, and have been glad that I dropped into their laps!
To entice the program director of non-bookstore organizations to schedule me into her events calendar, I offered 15% of books sold during her event. Not only will I cost them nothing as a speaker, but they will receive a small donation as a result of their book sales!
Not every contact gets back to me on a timely basis, requiring a follow-up email or phone call. But the results have been quite satisfactory. Here’s a list of interviews/author talks/book signings scheduled for the coming weeks:
Feb 26… ‘Books and the World’ cable interview, Cape Cod, MA
March 16…Allentown Public Library, Allentown, PA
March 19…Brandywine Community Library, Topton, PA
March 22…Kutztown Community Library, Kutztown, PA
March 31…Ames Free Library, Easton, MA
Am I supposed to be having this much fun?
Happy reading and writing!
Debi
Posted in Book Signing Events, Marketing, Published, tagged Author Talks, Book Signing Events, fiction, good news, local organizations, marketing, self-publishing on January 21, 2016| 3 Comments »
Now that my novel is published — as evidenced by the ten boxes of soft cover books stashed in my closet — I’ve been contacting various organizations to schedule author talk/book signing events. Lots of groups are seeking speakers for their monthly meetings, so this part of the marketing plan has been quite satisfying.
The local garden club scheduled me to speak at their March meeting, but when their January speaker broke her kneecap and had to cancel, the club’s organizer asked if I could step in at the last minute. Of course, I said ‘Of course!’
To prepare, I created a list of points to address and reviewed it with my writers group. With their additional suggestions, I rewrote the topics onto colored index cards, which kept me organized as I moved from one card to the next. I strayed only a few times when a funny anecdotes came to mind.
On that cold and windy night, seventeen club members braved the elements to attend, sitting entranced as I spoke about the reason I decided to write a mystery and the source of my initial idea. I explained the various stages of digging into research, developing the setting, creating the characters, firming up the plot, working with an editor, and the final steps of publishing. Of the 14 softcover books that I brought with me, only three were carried back home. I consider that a success for my first time out!
With additional author talks in the planning stages, here are a few already written on the calendar:
…end of January, bookstore in Attleboro, MA
…mid March, my sister’s library in Topton, PA [working to schedule other venues that same week while I’m in the area]
…end of March, library in Easton, MA
…early April, library in Mansfield, MA
…end of April, Friends of Senior Center, Norton, MA
In addition, I’m waiting to hear from Women of Today groups, senior centers, other local libraries, the women’s link of my local Chamber of Commerce, and a private book club. Also, the past president of a national mystery book exchange club has suggested me to her local library in Cranberry, NY, which may end up as a summer program. Plus a member of my writers group introduced me to her friend from Schenectady, NY, who has put me in touch with her local bookstore for a possible summer event. And finally, I’m waiting for a response from the director of my hometown library in Smyrna, DE.
As each organization moves from a potential venue to a scheduled author talk, my excitement mounts.
How much fun is this?
Posted in Book Signing Events, Marketing, Published, Publishers, tagged fiction, first novel, good news, marketing, Published, publisher, self-publishing, Sisters in Crime, writing on January 2, 2016| 3 Comments »
Jan 12, 2016 updated to include complete Amazon address.
Well, after years of plotting & writing, conferences & writers groups, 
my story… ‘The Uninvited Guest’… has been published through Riverhaven Books in Whitman, Massachusetts. Such a thrill to see it listed on Amazon as a paperback and e-book!
For the purpose of book signing events, I opted to print 400 books locally. What a thrill to pick up the ten boxes from the print shop! My trunk will hold a box of books at all times for those unplanned opportunities to place my story into the hands of an avid mystery reader, along with a 2-sided bookmark.
And now onto the task of marketing. Area bookstores, local libraries, senior centers, and women’s groups are on my list to contact. Some of them are bound to be interested in a debut local author to speak about writing a mystery with a book-signing event afterwards.
As it happens, my sister is involved with her local library in eastern Pennsylvania, and has already put me in contact with their Friends president, who is excited about planning an event. After we solidify her date in late March, I’ll approach the other libraries in the Berks County system for a possible event at their location while I’m in the area.
In addition, as a member of Sisters in Crime, I have joined their Speakers Bureau, and look forward to participating in author panels around New England during the coming months.
For all of you who have been following my progress over the past few years, I hope you’re as thrilled as I am!
Happy New Year to everyone!
Debi
Posted in Book Cover, Cover Blurb, Editor, Publishers, revision, tagged editor, fiction, first novel, manuscript, proof, publication details, publisher, revise, revision, self-publishing, writing on November 10, 2015| 4 Comments »
Well, the proof of my novel arrived, and for the past week, I’ve been combing through the pages to spot details that needed adjusting. Marked in red ink with the top corner of the page folded for easy locating, I noted missing punctuation, single-word changes, reversal of publisher line-editing efforts, and the return of several paragraphs dropped somewhere along the way.
This past Sunday morning, I drove the proof to my publisher’s home and we reviewed my editing requests, plus font size and format, possible reduction of pages by removing the space between lines, bookmark design, and adjustment of back cover blurb that currently gives away too much of the mystery.
So many details before making the commitment to print a supply of books for my personal sales at a local print shop! At some point in the near future, my novel will also be registered with Amazon as both an e-book and their print-on-demand version. When that happens, I’ll provide the link for those of you who are interested in reading my story!
The road to first-novel publication has been long and educational, but eminently interesting along the way!
Posted in Editor, Publishers, revision, tagged editor, fiction, first novel, manuscript, publisher, revise, revision, self-publishing, waiting game, writing on October 8, 2015| 1 Comment »
It’s no surprise that the lady helping me self-publish my first novel has gotten sidetracked with other projects and life itself.
We lost about three weeks in our timeline, but are now back on track. She provided me with the formatted manuscript, and included her own edits for the first half.
When I re-read my story, I found about a dozen places that needed to be returned to my own voice. She agreed to make the adjustments with very little resistance, but brought up two scenes that didn’t sit right with her. I saw her point, and have provided a revamp to take care of her concerns.
And so I’m waiting for her to get back to me with her second half edits, which I will then review and make further adjustments if needed.
In the meantime, I approached a recently-opened bookstore in a nearby town to ask about scheduling my book launch in their upstairs space. Before they will discuss that possibility, their buyer needs a ‘readers copy’ of my novel to determine if they will stock my novel in the local author section. If that decision is positive, then the events lady will discuss a possible book launch.
So many details, but I’m getting close!
Posted in Editor, Publishers, tagged fiction, first novel, manuscript, polished, publisher, self-publishing, waiting game on August 20, 2015| 2 Comments »
Well, a few minutes ago, I pulled on my big girl panties and hit the ‘send’ button.
After months of working with my editor to fine-tune the writing, firm up the plot, and deepen the characters, I’ve sent my story along for the final phase of preparation before publication.
Nothing to do now but watch for the galley proof to arrive. My final opportunity to make sure everything is in its proper place. That nothing has been dropped. That nothing has been added or duplicated. That all eyes are dotted. That all tees are crossed. Forgive my bastardization of those two letters.
While I wait, I guess I’ll turn my attentions to my next story…sigh.
Posted in Book Cover, Cover Blurb, Editor, Publishers, tagged editor, fiction, first novel, Hook, publisher, self-publishing, writing on July 28, 2015| 2 Comments »
Well, now that the editing is nearly complete — my editor was vacationing in Maine all last week, which allowed extra time for fine-tuning –and the cover art is a done deal, it’s time to provide the remaining cover details.
1st… The Story Blurb… this is unbelievably difficult to create! It’s more or less the same as the elevator pitch. The wording needs to hook the potential reader and encourage them to purchase the story. Several versions have passed through my writing group, and it finally reads as concise and captivating as we can make it.
2nd… Author Bio… keeping this relatively simple: name, retired, first novel, where I was born, and my general location now with cat and husband. My publisher thinks there will be room for the professional photo I had taken a while back.
3rd… Acknowledgement Page … need to be sure I thank everyone who was involved during the writing of my novel, including research sources, writing group members. and assorted friends and relatives.
Gotta go dig into my files to be sure no one is overlooked… more later!
Posted in Book Cover, Publishers, tagged Book cover art, fiction, first novel, publisher, self-publishing on June 21, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Well, the professional editing is nearly finished, so we’ve reached the point when the cover art needs to be discussed and created.
To that end, I met with my publisher from Riverhaven Books in Whitman, MA, and we reviewed the various aspects of the cover design… images, colors, font style, placement.
We created the initial cover based on an online format that caught my eye, but the printers proof didn’t quite do the trick, so I requested four adjustments:
1. Replace the purple surround with a neutral shade so it doesn’t conflict with the red brick of the building in the background of the photograph.
2. smudge the word LIBRARY over the entrance so the reader won’t be mislead. In my story, the abandoned library has been converted to a home.
3. Retake the 3/4 view photo of my step-daughter after making her appear older by tying her hair in a low-sitting ponytail and adding a hat… googled these tips.
4. Alter the rectangular shape of the new photo to an oval that echoes the arched doorway.
With these changes, I’m hoping the cover will have a more pleasing look and grab the attention of potential readers…fingers crossed!
Next chore on my list… find a location for my book launch party this fall!
Debi Graham-Leard 